Make time for a magical meeting with Santa.
A special festive visit for your family.
Santa's Grotto at Bluewater
Bring the family together for a festive visit to Santa’s Grotto on The Green, outside the Winter Garden at Bluewater. Children can enjoy a magical moment with Father Christmas and choose a toy from Santa’s workshop. Choose your preferred date and time, then book your family’s visit.
See Grotto Ticket Prices
Plan your family visit
Simple prices for children, accompanying adults and the very smallest visitors.
Child aged 1 and over
A visit to Santa
£12
Per child aged 1+. Includes a visit to Santa and a toy chosen from Santa’s workshop.
Accompanying adult
Join the family visit
£2
Per acompanying adult joining the grotto visit.
Baby under 1
The littlest visitors
Free*
* Free when accompanying a paying child and not participating. A participating under-one, including an under-one who is the only child visiting, requires a £12 ticket, including the Santa visit and toy.
A £1 booking fee applies per booking.
Plan your visit to Santa
Children aged 1 and over are £12 each, and accompanying adults are £2 each. Each paid child ticket includes a visit to Santa and a toy chosen from Santa’s workshop. Babies under 1 are free when accompanying a paying child and not participating. Participating under-ones require a £12 ticket. A £1 booking fee applies per booking.
Book Santa's GrottoChoose your date, time and tickets in the separate booking system.
Plan your Christmas visit
28 November - 24 December 2026 - Selected dates only
| Grotto dates | Opening times |
|---|---|
| 28 November | 10am - 8pm |
| 29 November | 11am - 7pm |
| 3 - 4 December | 3pm - 8pm |
| 5 December | 10am - 8pm |
| 6 December | 11am - 7pm |
| 10 - 11 December | 3pm - 8pm |
| 12 December | 10am - 8pm |
| 13 December | 11am - 7pm |
| 14 - 17 December | 3pm - 8pm |
| 18 December | 12pm - 8pm |
| 19 December | 10am - 8pm |
| 20 December | 11am - 7pm |
| 21 - 23 December | 10am - 8pm |
| 24 December | 10am - 5pm |
These are the grotto opening dates. Winterland's main rides and attractions have a different calendar.
Before you visit
Personal photography is not permitted inside Santa’s Grotto. However, an elf will be on hand to capture your visit, and photographs will be available to purchase on exit, with prices starting from £7.
Your visit begins at our check-in window, where one of Santa’s helpers will welcome you and check your booking. You can arrive at any time within your allocated 30-minute slot.
Once checked in, there may be a short wait while Santa meets other families. Your booked slot is your arrival window, rather than 30 minutes spent with Santa.
Before entering Santa’s cosy cabin, you’ll be greeted by an elf for a little chat before they escort you inside to meet Father Christmas.
Your family will enjoy a personal visit with Santa, and each child with a paid child ticket can choose an early Christmas present from Santa’s workshop to take home. An elf will also capture professional photographs of your visit.
Afterwards, follow the corridor to our photo window, where you can view and purchase photographs and keepsakes, with prices starting from £7. Purchases are optional.
Santa’s Grotto is open to everyone. Click “Book Santa’s Grotto”, choose your preferred date, time slot and tickets, then complete your booking online. You do not need to be a Bluewater PLUS+ member. Tickets are subject to availability.
Your visit to Santa takes place in Santa’s grotto, but the queuing area and surrounding space are outdoors. Please wrap up warmly and wear clothing suitable for the weather.”
Tickets are non-refundable if you cancel or cannot attend.
If you need to change your booking, please email grotto@winterlandbluewater.com with your order number at least 24 hours before your booked session, ideally giving 48 hours’ notice. This gives us time to offer your original slot to another family.
We will do our best to arrange an alternative date or time, subject to availability. Changes cannot be guaranteed, and requests received less than 24 hours before your booked session cannot be accommodated.
If you arrive before your booked time slot, please speak to Santa’s helpers at the check-in window. We’ll do our best to welcome you early where availability allows, but we may ask you to return during your booked arrival window.
While you wait, why not enjoy a hot chocolate or a sweet treat from the refreshment outlet on The Green, alongside Santa’s Grotto?
Pets are not permitted inside Santa’s Grotto. Assistance dogs, including guide dogs, are welcome.
Winterland has now closed for 2021/22 - we would like to thank all of our customers for your support and we look forward to seeing you all again soon